A YEAR IN REVIEW: New paths, hopes, and dreams for my future.

**I posted on Instagram a few months ago that I had a "big announcement" and I got a ton of inquiring minds… Do you remember that? Well, I decided to sit on this for awhile and I ultimately decided to share my thoughts with my lovely followers and clients. I must warn, this may not be "big" to anyone specific or anyone at all, which may lead to thoughts about me being super duper dramatic... Which I'm guilty of at times :) BUT it is indeed a huge for me and my business. I have decided to slowly distance myself from photography in 2015. One of my continuing resolutions every year is to be more transparent with my life, so if you're still curious, please read on (below this set of photos)!!**

Let's start this out bluntly: I adore my job. I do, I do!

"Oh! How cool is it that you get to shoot one day and get paid a ton for it, then you're like, done!" I hear this a lot. In the age of instant gratification and the desire for fast cash, photography may "make sense", but there is so much more to it than one, two, or seven days of shooting and getting paid "big bucks".

That being said, my practice is so different than your average work day. I listen to slow jams to get in the mood. I harness in the lovey-dovey feelings and begin flipping through image after image of various wedding days and couples who are in complete adoration for each other. I work almost every day of the week, I have the absolute joy of creating my own hours and being flexible with days off, but this thang I got goin' on is a full time gig!

A full time gig that has ultimately highlighted three main things in my life:

• I am not a business person.

• I am very much an active and social person. It is hard to be in front of a computer for 4-8 hours a day!

• My singleness is constantly affirmed every time I shoot a wedding and spend friday nights at my desk looking at clients’ pictures of them smooching.

I am fairly certain my computer has morphed into my boyfriend, and my mouse and keypad are my besties.

I always joke I have the most unique job. In many ways, really. But let me elaborate a bit- I am a PDA encourager and professional small talker. At times I'm a counselor, mediator, friend, customer service agent, blogger, and business owner. I have the chance to be an artist, occasionally a florist, and the joy of being the one who documents the tears and the giggles. My hat rack is a colorful display and I wouldn't have it any other way. But holy cows, does it get exhausting! As I am finishing up my first full "Wedding Season" with over 20 weddings under my belt for 2014, and many more to come, I am sitting in my office (lets be real, its my bedroom) and laughing at the past year of work that I just experienced.

I am not positive that anything could prepare me for being a "full time wedding photographer". I threw myself into the circus with the strong desire to produce the very best work, for the very best clients, for the very best prices… And I can whole-heartedly say that I worked hard to achieve that. I may not have done it as eloquently as I would have liked, but my God, was this a lesson I will carry with me for the rest of my days.

This past season may have been nutso, but I have been so very grateful to have had the help from my assistant and second shooter, Logan Smith. Logan reached out to me during September of 2013 with the curiosity of wedding photography and I laughed as I told him to join me on my next wedding. I genuinely felt like I had nothing to give, show, or teach him. But in reality, he's been teaching me just as much about communication, collaboration, and cameras. As one wedding together morphed into many, I decided to hire him for the the summer of 2014. Our dynamic works perfectly alongside my clients' wedding days, and I am so thankful to have a set of killer eyes to help me with poses, editing, and share the occasional cupcake and ice cream cone (or four) after the day is all said and done. He is so, so rad. You should hire him.

So with all that reminiscing and with this amazing wedding Season almost behind me, I have decided to only take on a few wedding clients for 2015. A few reactions I have experienced go something like this:

"Wait WHAT?! But I have already asked you to shoot my wedding/event/photos !!!?" Deep breath, friends. I have your name highlighted in my books and it's there to stay!

"But I have always wanted you to take my photos!! What happens if I want photos soon??" It doesn't hurt to ask! Seriously, this doesn't mean I will say "no"!! This means I may say "no" or "not at this time", because I am focussing on other things that conflict with my photography time.

"Oh, really? But I think you are talented and you're crazy for not continuing doing this!" Awww, I am SO genuinely flattered!! Let me explain in detail below:

Since I was 16, I have worked multiple jobs at once. Recently including photography, nannying, and working at an outdoor retailer- all while going to school full time. Even though juggling many activities is something I pridefully believe I am fully capable of (and often feed energy off of it), I have chosen to focus on a smaller set of time consuming things. This past year, I chose to focus on school and photography and at first, it was the healthiest thing I have done for myself in a loooong time. Emotionally, physically, in so many ways. Having the chance to channel my energy towards a smaller amount of things was a first for me, and seeing improvement was so rad. Although, I noticed as I moved from Olympia to Bellingham in January 2014, I had to return back to Olympia almost every other weekend to keep up with meetings and photo shoots, which quickly filled up my schedule yet again. I gained a ton of business and found myself juggling a full time job that I was always connected to, while simultaneously going to school. Pheewww! That wore me out quick and my stress level quickly rose, leading to health issues and a very sassy Shelby.

I frequently hear a gasp when I reveal my age (newly 21), or tell clients that I am actually pursuing a degree in Sociology & Communications with an emphasis in Social Justice and Law.

My heart is to ultimately be a resource to the beautiful people that live in this world who need assistance way more than I would ever hope to. I totally understand there are so many capacities that this falls under, and I frequently pray that future jobs will allow me to incorporate media- whether in the office or on the mission field!! I believe that God can beautifully marry your passions together to become something more significant than you could ever dream, and I hope I get that opportunity.

It has been on my heart for a long time as well as it does pain me to declare: My aspirations and career goals need my attention in the near future, and I desire to seek out a job/internships in another field other than photography.

So what does this mean?

-I will not be working in full time pursuit of photography.

-It is my short term goal to be serving overseas in India Between October-December 2015, which means I may not be around to book weddings and shoots during that time.

-Not booking multiple weddings a weekend (if I get inquiries).

-Cutting down hours so I can focus on school, graduating, my health, internships, and my family.

-Becoming settled in Bellingham and infrequently traveling to Olympia for photo shoots, client consultations, and work.

What does this NOT mean?!

-That I am not taking clients. Yes, I am! Just not close to as many as before.

-That I am saying goodbye to photography.

-This is definitely not "goodbye" to photography forever, but more-or-less a small "break"**.

**Ya know, those awkward periods of time when you don't want to let go of your awesome hot boyfriend, but he is just so frustrating and cute, and ahhhgg. Its hard to completely let go, but you go on a "break"? ***For the record, I think "breaks" are utter BS, But, I wouldn't be human if I didn't contradict myself…****

So, with that, I am taking a small break from photography in 2015 and hoping it will be there to catch me when I make up my mind and land my feet in new soil. My future will hopefully come in the form of a lobbying career for a non profit/educational district or becoming a full time missionary in the US or abroad. I am trusting in God’s plan for my life, and I am so very excited to watch my life unfold in the many years to come.

As far as 2015 goes... I plan to road trip around Iceland, continue studying at Western, build lasting friendships, climb more mountains, capture sweet memories, see Hawaii, explore new places, return to India, love more, and worry less.

For anyone reading this; I can not thank you enough for supporting me. Whether that has been hiring me to capture your wedding, considering me to photograph an event, made it in the infamous "365" album, or if you have simply provided me with encouraging words in person or online. Even if I have not met you, I am thankful for you, and the way you have shaped my growing passion and the business that has graciously evolved from it. I can confidently say that I have had the absolute pleasure of photographing the worlds best clients. Some of my greatest friendships blossomed from seniors who needed photos or couples who chose me to photograph their wedding. Not a day goes by that I am ungrateful for where I have ended up in my career, or the immense blessings that it has brought me. Photography has taught me SO MANY fantastic lessons, and I am so expectant to see where those lessons bring me in the future.

I have decided to write this sooner than later, for I have been receiving many inquiries regarding booking weddings for Fall and Winter of 2015 as well as in 2016. I very much want you, my awesome clients and friends, to know that i'm not denying you 'cause I'm a jerk. My goal is to be honest and open with my struggles, triumphs, and trials- both as a wedding/portrait photographer and as a gal who just wants to leave the world a bit better than she found it.

In love & so much gratitude,

Shelby